PEORIA — An all-girls lumberjack show, frisbee catching canines and racing pot-bellied pigs are some of the attractions that can be seen at the 65th annual Heart of Illinois Fair, which runs July 11 to 19 at Exposition Gardens, 1601 W. Northmoor Road, Peoria.

“We tried to pick attractions that you can’t see at every other little festival throughout the countryside,” said Roxy Baker, one of the fair’s directors.

Axe Women Loggers of Bar Harbor, Maine, will perform several competitions during the festival. The four women compete in chopping events, crosscut sawing, axe throwing and — the audience favorite — log-rolling. For the latter competition, two women try to knock each other off a log in the middle of a 20-foot swimming pool.

The women also give log-rolling lessons to children, who are always better at the sport than adults, said Axe Woman Alissa Harper.

“Kids pick it up super fast,” Harper said. “It’s really hard for adults to learn. Kids are lighter and have a lot less fear. Adults are afraid of looking funny, and afraid of falling off and getting hurt.”

K9’s in Flight will feature nine dogs who use their natural abilities of jumping, catching and chasing to wow the audience. The show’s stars are all mutts who were previously stray dogs or shelter tenants.

“(The show) is based on a lot of love, and incredible dog stories,” said trainer John Misita. “We’re showing people what these ‘throwaway shelter dogs’ are capable of.”

Woody’s Menagerie also will show off animal talent. Owners Gregg and Karen Woody bring several animals for display including two “ligers.” The animals, half tiger and half lion, weigh 900 pounds each. Woody’s Menagerie also hosts popular barnyard races, during which pot-bellied pigs, goats and dachshund dogs compete.

“Some of them are smart and some need years of practice,” said owner Gregg Woody. “You just have to learn how to play the game with them, so to speak. They like the attention.”

The fair also features livestock competitions, carnival rides, food, truck and tractor pulls, two nights of demolition derby (at 6:30 p.m. July 18 and 19), concerts and home art competitions. Organizers expect the event to draw about 45,000 people.

For the first time this year, patrons with valid ID will be allowed to carry open alcoholic beverages throughout the fair. Beverages must be purchased at one of the fair’s three beer tents.